Light-Induced Static Magnetization: Nonlinear Edelstein Effect

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that static magnetization can be generated in nonmagnetic materials under light illumination through a nonlinear Edelstein effect, applicable to various polarizations and magnetic orderings, with potential for diverse applications.

Contribution

It introduces the nonlinear Edelstein effect as a new mechanism for light-induced static magnetization in nonmagnetic materials, expanding the understanding of magneto-optic phenomena.

Findings

Magnetization can be induced by linearly polarized light in nonmagnetic materials.

Orbital contributions to magnetization can surpass spin contributions.

Various magnetic orderings, including anti-ferromagnetic and ferromagnetic, can be realized with NLEE.

Abstract

We theoretically and computationally demonstrate that static magnetization can be generated under light illumination via nonlinear Edelstein effect (NLEE). NLEE is applicable to semiconductors under both linearly and circularly polarized light, and there are no constraints from either spatial inversion or time-reversal symmetry. Remarkably, magnetization can be induced under linearly polarized light in nonmagnetic materials. With ab initio calculations, we reveal several prominent features of NLEE. We find that the orbital contributions can be significantly greater than the spin contributions. And magnetization with various orderings, including anti-ferromagnetic, ferromagnetic, etc., are all realizable with NLEE, which may facilitate many applications, such as unveiling hidden physical effects, creating a spatially varying magnetization, or manipulating the magnetization of anti-ferromagnetic materials. The relationship between NLEE and other magneto-optic effects, including the inverse Faraday effect and inverse Cotton-Mouton effect, is also discussed.